The Wayne County Airport Authority is taking action following a disruptive event at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, wherein a man drove his car through the McNamara Terminal on January 23. The Police Department of the airport authority is pushing for charges of aggravated assault, reckless driving, malicious destruction of property, and operating while intoxicated against the individual responsible, as reported by Detroit Free Press.
In a troubling development, the man accused of causing the Detroit Airport incident is now facing additional charges of aggravated stalking. According to FOX 2 Detroit, Brian Sutton was charged on February 12 and is being held on a bond of $250,000. If he makes bail, he must wear a GPS tether and have no contact with the alleged victim. This comes after his erratic behavior culminated in the airport crash, where, after making a dangerous right turn, his vehicle smashed into the terminal's glass doors before coming to a halt at a Delta Air Lines counter. Six individuals within the terminal reported minor injuries, and the chaos could have led to a more dire situation, had Sutton's car not been halted by the interior structures of the airport.
The Wayne County prosecutor's office is currently reviewing the cases, considering the charges proposed by the airport police. Officials confirm that the request for charges was submitted on February 12 and is awaiting a decision. "An update will be sent when a charging decision has been made. No further questions will be answered until a charging process has been completed," said Maria Miller, a spokesperson for the prosecutor's office, as noted in the coverage by Detroit Free Press. The charges are substantial, with indications that the malicious destruction of property amounts to over $20,000.
Additional context to the implication of Sutton's mental state at the time of the incident emerges from reports which mention that he was hospitalized for mental health treatment after the crash. On February 3, a judge ordered him into a 180-day mental health treatment program, this, according to Detroit Free Press. Sutton was said to be experiencing a "mental health episode" during the time of his arrest noted by his erratic behavior and disoriented ranting while adorned in a Lions jersey.
In response to the incident, the airport has increased patrols, and as a temporary measure to enhance safety, the Wayne County Airport Authority installed new 9,000-pound concrete bollards near the terminal entrance. This security update seeks to prevent similar events in the future and protect travelers and employees within the airport's domain.
